MEDIA RELEASE

A 57-year-old man was killed Wednesday (February 23, 2005) in a one-vehicle crash on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 11) about five-tenths of a mile south of the four-mile marker.

The driver was identified as Michael Nelson, of a Volcano address.

Responding to a 3:38 p.m. call, South Hilo Patrol officers determined that Nelson was driving a 1993 Jeep Wrangler in the Hilo direction when he lost control of the vehicle, which ran off the left side of the road and overturned. The driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle.

He was taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m.

Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the crash.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a coroner’s inquest case and ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Wednesday’s death was the seventh traffic fatality on the Big Island this year, compared to the same number at this time last year.